Man Loses $22,000 In New 'Policing For Profit' Case

[Guest AmericanWorkMule]

Carry money to buy guns would sound a lot worse than buying a car

In this latest case, a Monterey police officer took $22,000 off the driver -- even though he had committed no crime.

"And he couldn't prove it was legitimate," Officer Bates insisted.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/18241221/man-loses-22000-in-new-policing-for-profit-case

[Defender]

While I understand whythey wanna go after big money carriers, but...the way they are doing it, ...it's robbery with a badge and a gun, simple as that. Its doesnt matter to me oif the officers keep the money or the dept or city gets it, its still robbery. Ive also seen some of these on TV, when Chan 5 had newscrews onscene. This article doesnt say but in many of the cases, different police departments have almost come to blows or worse as to who has the right to stop on certain sections of interstate...no one wants to stop on the northbound and east bound sides because all they get are drugs being smuggled, while stopping on the southbound and westbound sides the officers get the cash. In some of these smaller depts, they wouldnt even be able to HAVE the extra patrol cars and officers to do this if they didnt steal the money. I think some departments have even made deals with other departments to establish a scedule as to who gets to make stops on which sections of highway and when.

Edited May 14, 2012 by barewoolf

[DaveTN]

Most cops would not do that. It’s armed robbery by Police Officers. The state Attorney General and the Tennessee Legislature support it. It needs to stop.

When you have cops out on I-40 fighting with each other over “Territory†so they can steal money from travelers…. It needs to be prosecuted criminally. But of course it won’t be because the only people that can bring charges are involved in it. It’s appalling.

[Guest AmericanWorkMule]

NSFW

Don't tell this guy he needs a Warrant to Search your Car!

Edited May 17, 2012 by AmericanWorkMule

[TMF]

We have to prove our own money is legitimate? How is this legal?

[Garufa]

Don't tell this guy he needs a Warrant to Search your Car!

What does this have to do with your original post which was actually worthy?

Edited May 15, 2012 by Garufa

[DaveTN]

Don't tell this guy he needs a Warrant to Search your Car!

This isn’t about search warrants or probable cause; this is about theft. If you turn it into a discussion about warrants the real crime here will get lost. I don’t care if the discovery of the cash came from a warrant or a search backed with probable cause; if there is nothing but a citizen carrying cash there is no reason to take it without an arrest.

And that video link has no business being here.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

The only way to stop this crap is to fight like Hell to overturn government property seizure and forfeiture laws. It opened up

this can of worms. Just one more unconstitutional set of overreach. and what DaveTN said

[Guest AmericanWorkMule]

sorry if you're offended,

I thought the video was reflective of the thought process of people that feel they can do what they want

[vontar]

I know most of us don't have this kind of Cash on hand but still unless caught doing something illegal, one should not have to prove it is going to be used legally.

Seriously, we don't arrest people before they comment a crime. Having money in cash should not be proof of a possible future event.

This is a broken system.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

It's one more reason to not allow a search. Tell him to get his drug sniffing dogs, if he wants to search it that bad.

Extortion by cop. Give me my ticket and I'll be on my way.

[Glenn]

This has been going on for a long time. I remember a case at least 10 years ago where a jeweler was going overseas to buy diamonds and had 10 or 20 thousand seized in Tenn. He was not charged with anything.

Glenn

[kb4ns]

We have to prove our own money is legitimate? How is this legal?

Oh, it's "legal". It's just not constitutional. One more kink in the system that needs fixin'. I don't remember what the limits are on seizing cash, but they're low. I've gotten into arguments with other officers about the laws on seizing peoples' cash. If they get locked up and you seize the cash along with a pound of dope, fine. If you find a wad of cash and there's no proof of illegal activity, you leave it the **** alone! Legal or not, it's what is right.

[Guest AmericanWorkMule]

It came to mind after reading this, maybe you all remember, years ago when Dateline did an investigated report on Louisiana catching travelers of Interstate 10 seizing money and cars? I remember they took a car from an old lady because they thought she was planning to transport drugs.

here it is

http://www.ndsn.org/FEB97/LOUSIANA.html

I wonder what became of that? Maybe it could happen here as well.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Another sickening thing was the last statement. Officers agreeing to drop criminal charges in exchange for a cut of money is wrong. I know it happens everyday but never so blatantly.

The other disturbing part is the "Ex Parte" part of the statute. Those loosing their money then not being notified of the hearing or being able to testify should be criminal. Everything in our justice system allows for both sides to be heard but not in this case. Only one jaded side is going to be heard.

Dolomite

[101]

Everyone seems to be missing the main point of this story.

DO NOT TALK TO THE POLICE!!!!

Is this a messed up story....yes. Was it wrong....yes. Does this type of thing need to stop....yes.

Guess what, that gentleman would not have lost his money had he kept his mouth shut and not VOLUNTARILY given up his constitutional right to be secure in his property. Pretty simple to me. Don't answer questions that do not pertain to the reason of the stop. Even then, keep your mouth shut!

Why do people not understand this. I'd rather get harassed by a cop and illegally detained, then file a lawsuit and win then give up my rights....in hopes of getting a cop that IS NOT corrupt.

Police are human and the moral fabric of our society is dropping too low to expect a police officer to act morally and display good judgement. The "good" peace officers that alot of us grew up knowing are a thing of the past. Good cops now a days are as elusive as the jackalope.

I don't understand people. This is why the government is not going to take ours rights by force. Every year we just give them up a little piece at a time. Please for all of us.....STOP talking to the cops. He is is not Dr. Phil. He is not your buddy. He has a purpose for every word that comes out of his mouth. The cop did not stop you because he was bored and needed someone to shoot the breeze with.

When I get stopped for whatever reason, I hold the officer on the task at hand. When he starts his fishing trip, I cut his line. Do I seem like a dick...yes. Do I care, no. Do I get a ticket when he might have let me go, probably. Id rather get a ticket I can fight in traffic court then try to explain why I have a tire iron laying on the floor of my car next to me because im too lazy to put it back after using it and have some slick talking cop spin it around and turn something like that against me. You all need to remember one thing. Police are after bad guys and they have an arsenal of laws and tricks to make my grandmother a criminal if she keeps running her mouth long enough. Why take that chance. Keep your mouth shut.

[daddyo]

NEVER consent to an illegal search. NEVER.

Bates is a thief, plain and simple. "He couldn't prove it was legitimate"???? WTF???

Edited May 15, 2012 by DaddyO

[TMF]

You sorta have to talk to the police when they pull you over. If they ask a question I'm going to answer it honestly. If this man hadn't agreed to a search it wouldn't have changed anything. The cash alone would have given him PC, but he may have just called a K9 team which would most likely hit on the cash. Its not uncommon for cash to have trace amounts of cocaine on it. Besides, with 20 grand involved and crooked cops, its too easy for the handler to give queues to the dog to get a false response. They wanted the money and they got it. One day they're gonna do this to the wrong person and it's going to wake some folks up.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I would never give a police officer permission to search my car. If he wants to waste the time on the

dogs over a traffic ticket, something's wrong. If he asks me what I'm carrying, do you really think I'm

going to tell him I'm carrying cash? Hell no! It's none of his business and until he has that probable

cause to search, I will raise that Hell. I'll be glad to argue over driving school, but not my privacy.

The best course is to not get the ticket, so I usually keep the cruise on the limit. I hate those bastards

littered all over the medians of I-40. They can use all the justification they want, but there's something

amiss if they have to sit in little clusters and sort out their prey for the day. That's not police work. It's

more thuggery sanctioned by the government and it's wrong.

Property seizure and forfeiture laws are the problem and until we get rid of it, this garbage will continue.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

You sorta have to talk to the police when they pull you over. If they ask a question I'm going to answer it honestly. If this man hadn't agreed to a search it wouldn't have changed anything. The cash alone would have given him PC, but he may have just called a K9 team which would most likely hit on the cash. Its not uncommon for cash to have trace amounts of cocaine on it. Besides, with 20 grand involved and crooked cops, its too easy for the handler to give queues to the dog to get a false response. They wanted the money and they got it. One day they're gonna do this to the wrong person and it's going to wake some folks up.

Yes you do, and politely so, but you don't have to incriminate yourself. You don't have to give away anything, legal or illegal. I wouldn't assist an officer in making me some kind of criminal because there

are too many ways a corrupt one would take advantage of something found out in casual conversation.

He better already have his reason for PC, and it better be good. I have a damned good lawyer, just like

he has drug sniffing dogs. My lawyer bites, also.

There are too many ways to inadvertently end up being a criminal, nowadays. That allows for a police state and makes good cops look bad.

Edited May 15, 2012 by 6.8 AR

[DaveTN]

What does seizing money have to do with a law abiding citizen answering a cops questions? Nothing.

Just because you give consent to search doesn’t mean he gets to keep anything he finds that he wants. And why is a cop even asking about cash?

I will say this… if you run into a truly criminal cop, the last thing in the world you want to do is get in a pizzing contest with him on the street. He won’t fear you or your attorney and you may end up in prison.

Which still has nothing to do with the discussion at hand.

[daddyo]

And why is a cop even asking about cash?

What he effectively did was rob him at gunpoint. No difference between him and a common street thief except for the badge.

[JAB]

One day they're gonna do this to the wrong person and it's going to wake some folks up.

Sooner or later this podunk cop or others like him will accidentally stop some real drug dealers with real drug money. Maybe some members of the Mexican cartel looking to prove themselves. That is the day that Deputy Fife will find out how real drug dealing criminals react to cops who want to seize their drug money. Of course, who knows? All the pieces of his body might be found. Eventually.

Edited May 15, 2012 by JAB

[Sam1]

whoa this is bad

He had two clients where police agreed to drop the cases in exchange for a cut of the money -- $1,000 in one case, $2,000 in another. In both cases, that was less than what they might have paid in attorney fees.

Miles called that "extortion."

Although I believe they have the right to question anyone, they shouldn't have the right to do anything of the such. The people that gave up on the 1k-2k "fees" or whatever are retards, I would let them hold on to it and take them to court. Then they would pay damages + my money + fees. The burden of proof is on the police department, not the citizen.

[dlm37015]

well with out goig into it too much i was stopped at thr 25 mile marker on 40.the policeman said it would make him feel better if he could search my truck i said no 5 police cars and 7 policemen with mp5s i got to go .no ticket no warning just a bunch of overweight out of shape policemen i was coming from a gunshow in tulsa yes i had cash no way i am ever letting them get in my truck